‘He is not a number three player’: Experts want Shubman Gill to open in Tests

Former India cricketers Sarandeep Sharma and Wasim Jaffer reckon Shubman Gill should be promoted to the opening slots to help regain his form in Tests. Gill, who has been India’s designated opener in white-ball formats, was pushed a spot down in Tests to replace Cheteshwar Pujara after the latter was dropped from the red-ball set-up following the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia last year. The decision seems to have backfired as Gill has managed to breach the 30-run mark just once in his last 9 Test innings.

According to Sarandeep Singh, Indian captain Rohit Sharma might send Gill to open the innings alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal in the upcoming second Test against England, beginning on February 2 in Vizag. The Indian batting order is expected to see some changes in the match owing to the injury issues of KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja. With Virat Kohli staying out as well, Rohit will need to come down in No. 3 to vacant an opening position.

Though Gill has previously batted in No. 3 in his first-class career for Punjab. Sarandeep feels the position doesn’t suit him well in Test cricket. “Gill is not a number three player. He should open the innings. Rohit is one of the best players of spin and can drop down to accommodate Gill at the top,” the ex-Indian off-spinner told news agency PTI.

Wasim Jaffer also keeps a similar view. He has also suggested that Rohit should come after Gill and Jaiswal in the second Test against England. In a long post on X, Jaffer wrote, “Gill and Jaiswal should open and Rohit should bat at no.3 in 2nd test in my opinion. Waiting to bat for his turn isn’t helping Shubman, it’s better he opens the inn. Rohit plays spin really well, so batting at no.3 should not worry him too much.”

Gill and Jaiswal should open and Rohit should bat at no.3 in 2nd test in my opinion. Waiting to bat for his turn isn’t helping Shubman, it’s better he opens the inn. Rohit plays spin really well, so batting at no.3 should not worry him too much. #INDvENG

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 29, 2024

India batting coach Vikram Rathour, however, wants to give Gill some more time to get back to his own. During a pre-match press conference on Wednesday, he said, “There are young batters in our team who have not played much Test cricket. So, we need to be a bit patient with them. Batters like Gill, Jaiswal and (Shreyas) Iyer will eventually start getting big runs, I’m sure of it.”

Gill has donned the whites for India in 21 Tests. He has racked up a total of 1063 runs including only two centuries and four fifty-plus scores.

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